Thursday, March 11

Investments for Science, Technology, and Innovation

People's Republic of China
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Investments for Science, Technology, and Innovation

In an era of innovation, investments in science and technology have become incredibly important. Not only do these investments benefit all, but they also work to improve the global economy and the sustainable development of nations. In the People’s Republic of China, great emphasis has been placed on these investments, especially when it comes to the education of science and technology.

The Communist ideology has always played a heavy emphasis on education and the People’s Republic of China holds this emphasis to the highest. Since 1986, China has made 9 years of basic education mandatory for all children. In February 2006, the Chinese government announced the advancement of the basic education goal by promising to provide free nine-year to all in the poorer western provinces. A little over a year later, in March 2007, China declared their choice of making education a national “strategic priority” by tripling national scholarships and giving 223.5 billion Yuan (28.65 billion USD) of extra funding to improve compulsory education in rural areas.

Such emphasis has also been placed on the education of science and technology. Li Xueyong, vice minister of science and technology, during a news conference held in the Media Center for the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China ( CPC ) in Beijing on October 16, 2007, stated “Currently, 35 million Chinese people are working in the field of science and technology, making China rank first in the world.”[1] Having a career in a field of science or technology is highly valued for being financially rewarding as well as exceptionally prestigious. Many great Chinese leaders have trained in the field of technology. Jiang Zemin and Zho Rongji were originally trained as electrical power engineers. The current president, Hu Jintao, was originally educated as a hydraulic engineer.[2]

The People’s Republic of China puts the highest emphasis on science and technology, despite being only a developing nation. China wants to see science and technology in all education curriculums around the world, seeing as it greatly benefits all economies. In this global economic slump, these science and technology fields are the world’s best bet for improvement.

[1] http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/17/content_6896798.htm
[2] http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2007/10/2008525172536374792.html
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Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict

People's Republic of China
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
FHSMUN 31
Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict

Established in 1945, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is one of the many United Nations specialized organizations. The purpose of UNESCO is to promote international collaboration through education, science, and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the UN Charter.[1] One of UNESCO’s biggest goals currently is to preserve World Heritage Sites, which is a place deemed either to have cultural or physical significance.

Currently, the People’s Republic of China is home to 38 cultural heritage sites. China has the most cultural sites in Asia and the third most in the world, behind Italy and Spain respectively.[2] The most famous of these sites are the Great Wall and Mount Emei Scenic Areas, which includes the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area. Out of these Cultural Heritage sites, none so far of them have been deemed as being in danger.[3] China has taken considerable measures to protect these cultural heritage sites. The government established the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics in 1982 and has revised it steadily since. The central and local governments have been steadily increasing financial input for the conservation of Cultural Heritage along with the Military of Finance, who has injected 224 million Yuan into the conservation during the Tenth Five-year Plan period of 2001-2005, which is an increase of 20.5 percent compared to the previous Five-Year Plan period of 1996-2000.[4] China also places an incredible amount of emphasis on preventing the illegal excavation of excavation and traffic of cultural relics.

The Chinese government has currently been providing assistance to other nations in the protection of cultural property. In 2005, a donation was made of 14.5 million Yuan to the Angkor Wat Project in Cambodia in order to help renovations of the Chau Say Thevoda. Major Chinese businesses have also been donating or doing other ways to assist nations. Other than foreign nations, the People’s Republic of China has also made donations to UNESCO, particularly to the World Heritage Centre as well as considerable investments for Information for All Programme and science education.[5] The Chinese government has always placed a great emphasis on the protection of cultural property, and thus feels the need to aid such an important cause through these donations.

The People’s Republic of China feels that all cultural property should be protected, especially when it is endangered. Endangered property should have priority over those not endangered, since it is at most risk. All cultural property is important, and all should be preserved as much as possible. Cultural property is the history of mankind, and protecting it is preserving that history for future generations and for those who are interested in their heritage.
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